I don't think that would be efficient enough (read economic) to be cheaper than photo-voltaic. You are adding multiple components including rotating machinery that take more space and maintenance. Modern Solar Cells have made a lot of gains in the past decade.
My problem with solar cells is that they tend to lose a lot of their output over a period of time. What may look great in the first few years, often fades away as you move into the 5-10 year out and over years. Then you need to replace your panels starting over again. If it is your contention this is no longer a concern with the improvements you mentioned, that would be good.
As you state, there would be a need for tracking
A pipe system can be utilized to bring heat into the home too. If that can be used for twenty-30 days per month, it can greatly reduce furnace costs.
In some of the cold climates, but the system needs to run all year if there is a chance of being economic. Now you have even more waste heat to find a way to reject. Speaking of, you need more than a steam generator, you need a condenser to cool the other end of the loop, or you need a huge water supply to less efficiently release to the atmosphere.
If we're talking a more arid area like the desert, it would seem this system wouldn't be ideal. If we're talking about a more moderate area, the cooling becomes less important. I have a very broad comfort zone. I can be comfortable from 60 to 100 degrees. I would rather have the low end about 70-72, but I can endure lower. My plan would not totally eliminate gas alternatives. I would be fine with augmenting with gas when the sitaution called for it. The point is, to minimize the exposure.This also depends on the price of utilities in the area in question. I'm paying about $20.00 per month for gas right now. In the winter it can move up to over $100 per month. That could be reduced if a solar system were to be incorporated into the overall mix.
Obviously, if we're talking $20.00 per month, an alternative system isn't going to pay for itself. If it were a new build, and the cost wasn't prohibitive, it might be worth putting in the steam water conduits. Otherwise, a retrofit, probably not.
People can say what they want, but I grow very tired of having a big utility dictate to me what new regulations I’m going to have to abide by, while they busy themselves thinking of the next layer of regulations.
You can do without them, but you cannot begin to do it as cheaply and reliably as they do. I am an electrical engineer, specialized in power system. I have remote property that I have tried for years to come up with an economical design for power.
It remains far cheaper to build more than a mile of power line twisting and turning through the trees and ravines than anything I could begin to do myself for a full size home.
You're the expert, so I'm not going to challenge you on this. It sounds like you've been trying to do exactly what I would like to do. Your experience seems to indicate it's not possible to produce a major portion of your own energy needs, in an economical enough manner. That's rather disconcerting to hear, but I have no reason to not believe you or challenge your conclusions.